Shoe-cleaning machine.



No. 7|2,332. Patented Oct. 2 I902.

w. RICHARDSON.

I SHOE CLEANING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 25, 1902.)

(No Model.)

' INVENTOH William flz'ciaralmn! yv/msssss m: nanls rnzm to vnuvau'mm. WASHINGTON, I: :1y

" ATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM RICHARDSON, OF COLFAX, WASHINGTON.

SHOE-CLEANING. MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 712,332, dated October 28, 1902.

Application filed February 25, 1902. SerialNo. 95,503. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM RICHARDSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Colfax, in the county of Whitman and 5 State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Cleaning Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to shoe-cleaning machines of the general type described in my pending application, Serial No. 55,338, filed April 11, 1901.

The object of my present inventionis more particularly to provide means for normally retaining the revoluble brush in a predetermined position relative to the foot-rest, so that the operator after using the brush merely allows it to return to its normal position, where it is convenient for subsequent'use.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, showing certain parts broken away and in section; and Fig. 2 is a plan view likewise showing certain parts in section on the line 2 2 in Fig. l.

The apparatus is preferably made of, such a size as to be conveniently carried" around. Upon the board 1 is mounted a metallic plate 2, supported upon standards 3. A foot-rest 4:, made, preferably, in horseshoe shape and disposed substantially concentric to the axis of 1 and one of the standards 3, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1. A scraper 5, made, preferably, of folerably thick metal, is mounted upon the board 1 and secured rigidly to the plate 2, thus acting as a brace. Mounted upon the plate 2 and practically integral therewith is a tubular sleeve 6, which serves as a bearing for the vertical shaft 7. The lower end of this shaft is provided with a revoluble brush 8 of substantially cylindrical form. A

leaf-spring 9 is rigidly secured to the standard 3 and engages a washer 10 upon the lower end of the revoluble shaft. The brush is provided in the usual manner with bristles 11 for the purpose of cleaning and polishing the cleaner, is mounted rigidly upon the board wise be the case.

vided with a U-shaped member 13 for the purpose of cleaning the bristles 11 of the brush. This member is rendered adjustable by means of the thumb-screw 14. A handle 15 is used for rotating the brush.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The device being seated upon the ground, a person first scrapes the mud or coarse dirt from his foot by means of the scraper 5, using the same as he would any other scraper. He next places his foot upon the foot-rest l,

the foot to be moved readily into different positions. The operator now takes hold of the handle 15, causing the vertical shaft to revolve, and at the same time presses the handle downward, thereby causing the vertical shaft to depress the leaf-spring 9. Indoing this the operator is enabled to lower and raise the brush at will, so as to apply the friction thereof to any desired part of theshoe. When the handle 15 is released, the brush immediately assumes its normal position,as indicated in Fig. 1, and is ready for subsequent use.

This device is very convenient for cleaning shoes in the dark or where the operator is from any cause disabled in scrutinizing the work. By the virtue of the fact that the brush can be raised or lowered at will the bristles can be made to operate upon parts of the shoe not readily accessible.

The leaf-spring 9 is one of the essential features of my invention. The use of this spring makes the general operation of the device far more satisfactory than would other- By normally holding the brush in an elevated position relatively to the foot=rest a person in placing his foot upon the rest is unable to wedge the brush so as to prevent any sort of free movement thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A shoe-cleaning machine, comprising a frame, a foot-rest mounted therein, a revoluble brush mounted within said frame and free to move in the general direction of its axis, and a spring for normally retaining said brush in a general predetermined position relatively to said foot-rest.

2. Ashoe-cleaning machine comprising a frame, a revoluble shaft mounted therein and which, because of its rounded shape, allows free to slide in the general direction of its axis, a brush mounted upon said shaft and coaxial therewith, a foot-rest adjacent to said brush, and a leaf-spring engaging said shaft for the purpose of normally retaining said brush in a general predetermined position relatively to said foot-rest.

3. A shoe-cleaning machine comprising a frame, a plate secured thereto and provided with an opening, a tubular sleeve rigidly secured in said opening and practically integral With said plate, a revoluble shaft journaled in said sleeve and free to slide therein, said shaft being provided at one of its ends with a cleaning member and at its other end with a crank-arm, said sleeve serving to brace said shaft substantially throughout the length thereof, a foot-rest, and a leaf-spring mounted upon said frame and engaging said revoluble shaft.

4. A shoe-cleaning machine comprising a frame, a plate secured thereto and provided with a bearing, a revoluble shaft journaled in said bearing and free to slide in the general direction of its axis, said shaft being provided with a cleaning member coaxial therewith and of general circular form, a curved footrest disposed substantially concentric to the axis of said brush, and means responsive to pressure for normally retaining said shaft in a general predetermined position relatively to said foot-rest.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN PATTISON, JAMES CAIRNS. 

